I thank the Deputy. I convey the apologies of the Minister, Deputy O'Brien. He is at an EU Environment Council meeting on the 2040 environmental targets. We sought a swap but due to the Dáil resuming that was very difficult. On the Deputy's question, the Government has made a number of important commitments in respect of addressing the continued high cost of energy. The programme for Government acknowledges the increased energy cost pressures on households and businesses and commits to bringing forward taxation measures to help contain energy costs. The Government approved an extension of the 9% VAT rate currently applied to gas and electricity by a further six months to October 2025 at an estimated cost of €85 million with the net benefit to households from 1 May to 31 October being approximately €26.60 with respect to electricity and €20.28 with respect to gas. This is traditionally 13.5% but has been 9% since 2022 in response to the energy price crisis. In June 2025, my Department established the national energy affordability task force to identify, assess and implement measures that will enhance energy affordability for households and businesses while delivering key renewable commitments and protecting security of supply and economic stability. A key output of this task force will be to develop an energy affordability action plan which will identify a comprehensive range of solutions, including demand-side solutions for households to allow them to adjust their energy demand and avail of low-cost renewable energy. Task force members are currently working to finalise the preparation of an interim report, which will set out measures for consideration as part of the budget 2026 process.
Sentiment score: 0.28
We have as a Government delivered over €3.3 billion in credits to over 2.3 million households in recent times, but we need to be strategic with this upcoming budget. Once-off measures are certainly not a long-term fix. That is why, as I said earlier, we have established the national energy affordability task force which is preparing an interim report to inform budget 2026. We are also looking at structural reforms, not just short-term relief. As I said earlier, we have extended the reduced VAT rate on energy to help households directly and we are very much focused on targeted sustainable measures, not just repeating the same approach. We are also investing record funding in energy upgrades that will permanently lower bills for many of those at most risk.
Sentiment score: 0.14
In the context of what we are discussing, the reality is that Ireland operates in a liberalised EU energy market where prices are set commercially, not by governments. That said, we are not passive observers in this regard. The CRU has statutory powers to oversee suppliers' conduct. We have recently strengthened its protections for consumers this winter. On profits, I accept that energy companies have posted strong returns recently but it is worth noting that ESB profits are being reinvested into infrastructure and renewables. We need to ensure that we continue to invest in our grid and that we have security of supply. The Minister, Deputy O'Brien, has written to many of the suppliers directly and has scheduled meetings to push for stronger supports for many householders feeling the burden of increased prices.
Sentiment score: 0.38
The programme for Government sets out a clear policy direction that balances energy, housing, climate and economic development. It recognises that increased and unprecedented investment in our electricity grid and generation capacity is essential to meet future demand, not just for data centres but for housing, electric vehicles, heat pumps and a growing population. The electricity and gas retail market in Ireland operates under a European regulatory regime. Prices are set by suppliers as entirely commercial and operational matters. However, the CRU has statutory responsibility for consumer protection. It is currently reviewing investment proposals under price review 6, PR6. Under PR6, the CRU has proposed a record €18 billion investment in the grid between 2026 and 2030, with €14.1 billion guaranteed. The Government is underpinning this with €3.5 billion in equity support for EirGrid and ESB Networks. This represents a step change in infrastructure delivery, ensuring our grid can support both economic growth and housing delivery. While already contracted data centres will be accommodated in the near term, the Government has committed to developing a plan-led approach for future large energy users. This will align with our decarbonisation objectives, supporting Ireland’s knowledge-led economy and providing certainty for the sector. Let me be clear, data centres are a core enabler of our technology-rich innovation economy. Ireland has successfully attracted global leaders in this space. This must be balanced with the needs of communities, housing developments and energy affordability. That is why system operators assess future demands, including housing targets, population growth and climate goals, and the Government is scaling up investment in critical infrastructure to ensure that all customers benefit and that Ireland’s energy system remains secure, affordable and fit for purpose.
Sentiment score: 0.38
Let us be clear: households are not subsidising data centres. All users of our electricity grid contribute to its development. The CRU, as the independent regulator, ensures costs are fairly and proportionally allocated. In fact, extra large energy users, including data centres, have seen network costs increase in recent years compared with those for domestic customers. Price review 6 is a great opportunity. Transmission costs for data centres are expected to stabilise and reduce, reflecting the reversal of recent increases linked to security of supply. It is important to have that balance, as I said earlier. Housing is the Government’s number one priority. That is reflected in the national development plan where we have allocated more than €35 billion over the next decade to housing, while also understanding the need for other key infrastructure, such as energy and water infrastructure. That is why the national development plan has been published and is very much focused around programme for Government commitments.
Sentiment score: 0.31
I thank the Deputy. First, the Secretary General of our Department rightly pointed out that policy choices must be made, and we are making them. Certainly, that is why we are investing in housing, the grid and water infrastructure. These are the three pillars that will support sustainable development in this country. The idea that data centres are being prioritised over homes is not supported by facts. That will not happen under price review 6. We are investing in the grid like never before, not just to connect more homes but to ensure we can distribute the renewable energy we are generating across the country and provide homes, businesses and communities with more green renewable energy. The CRU is independent. This review includes a medium-term outlook in terms of balancing housing and climate targets. It is about how we can ensure houses are delivered and our economic development is not staggered.
Sentiment score: 0.21
I thank the Deputy for the question. The deposit return scheme was introduced in February 2024 to encourage higher recycling rates for plastic bottles and cans and to help Ireland meet its EU recycling targets. Since becoming fully operational in June, 2024, the scheme has delivered strong results. According to Re-turn, the scheme operator, Ireland achieved a 66% collection rate in 2024, which has since increased to 76%, based on rolling averages in early 2025. This puts us firmly on track to meet our EU target of 77% by the end of the year. Under the single-use plastics directive, producers must use 25% recycled content in PET bottles by 2025, increasing to 30% by 2030. The DRS is critical in supplying the high-quality recyclate that is needed to meet the targets. While the collection and recycling of containers returned is an operational matter for Re-turn, I can confirm that all material collected is first processed at its contracted facility in Limerick. From there, it is sent to licensed facilities in Ireland, the UK or Europe for final recycling. In 2024, 34% of PET collected was recycled in Ireland, with the remaining 66% exported, primarily to the UK and the EU. This reflects current market capacity and the need for specialised facilities to handle high-grade recyclate. Importantly, one of the long-term benefits of the DRS is the potential to establish Ireland's first bottle-to-bottle recycling plant. This would allow us to retain the economic value of this material, reduce reliance on exports and further strengthen our circular economy.
Sentiment score: 0.22
The reality is that Ireland currently does not have a facility capable of fully recycling PET bottles into new food-safe drinks containers. Some operators do look at the processing of PET into flakes. That said, the DRS has created a consistent stream of high-quality recyclate. Re-turn is actively exploring the viability of establishing Ireland's first bottle-to-bottle recycling plant. Building a stable supply chain is a direct dividend of the scheme. There is a strong strategic opportunity here also, both economically and environmentally, to ensure that such a plant is established in Ireland.
Sentiment score: 0.23
The Deputy should bear in mind that the current technical capacity was not in place previously. The scheme was only introduced in June 2024. The company had to establish a supply chain to strategically invest in a facility of this type. Thanks to the DRS, we now have a supply chain and market conditions that are favourable and make economic sense to establish a facility like this. We are all in agreement that we need develop it, but this was not a policy failure. The initiation of the scheme has provided huge benefits, and we know that from many litter studies around the country. Indeed, there is a current supply chain where 33% of all PET is recycled in Ireland currently. We have to look at how we can keep the remainder on the island and ensure it goes back into a more circular system bottle to bottle.
Sentiment score: 0.29